The discovery of a ridiculously tiny species of wasp in Costa Rica might be pushing the limit on just how small an insect can get.

The species, named Tinkerbella nana after Peter Pan’s miniscule assistant, averages 250 micrometers long. That’s 0.01 of an inch—little wider than the diameter of a human hair.

The new fairyfly is named after Tinkerbell. Photograph courtesy Jennifer Read

T. nana is a type of wasp known as a fairyfly (Mymaridae). Don’t be fooled by its sweet-sounding name, small size, or the delicate fringe on its wings—T. nana and other fairyflies are parasites that live on the eggs of other insect species. (Also see “Parasitic Wasp Swarm Unleashed to Fight Pests.”)

Despite its microscopic size, T. nana isn’t the smallest known insect. That particular honor goes to Kikiki huna, a species of fairyfly found on Hawaii. This fly is only half as long as T. nana, and scientists don’t know whether it’s possible for insects to get any smaller.

Meet some other members of the animal kingdom known for their remarkably petite physiques.

A new species of mouse lemur found in Madagascar. Photograph by Mark Thiessen, National GeographicPrimatologist Mireya Mayor holding a newfound mouse lemur in Madagascar. Photograph by Mark Thiessen, National Geographic

Scientists found the frog the way they found T. nana—by sorting through leaf litter, although no one currently knows exactly what it eats or how it lives.

Smallest mammal. The Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), a.k.a. the bumblebee bat, has been dubbed one of the world’s smallest mammals. A threatened native of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma), the bumblebee bat weighs in at 0.071 of an ounce (2 grams) and measures only 1.1 to 1.3 inches (2.8 to 3.3 centimeters) in length.

Smallest bird. Continuing with the bee theme, meet Mellisuga helenae, the bee hummingbird, which lives on Cuba and nearby islands. Weighing 0.056 to 0.071 of an ounce (less than 2 grams) and measuring 2.0 to 2.4 inches (5 to 6 centimeters) long, M. helenae has won the title of world’s smallest bird. Not only is it bee-size, M. helenae enjoys feeding on nectar like its namesake. Unlike a bee, however, M. helenae has bright, iridescent feathers.

A bee hummingbird perches on a twig in Cuba. Photograph by Steve Winter, National Geographic

Philippine tarsiers are night creatures: they’re looking for food during night time. They are carnivorous and mostly feed of insects. I have the opportunity to visit the island of Bohol, Philippines where tarsiers are housed in a huge bird cage. We were told not to take flash photography because tarsiers are sensitive to flashing lights.

Ahmed Ashraf

Egypt , Alexandria

May 10, 2013, 6:05 pm

Oh what else god left for us to Discover in the future , Allah the great.

juanita m

franklin, MO

May 10, 2013, 4:25 pm

we have a tiny bird here in the backyard, it’s about 3in long irridesant blue-green in color. don’t think it’s a humming bird.

Sudarsan

Dubai

May 10, 2013, 2:45 pm

That’s the beatuy of Nature. Amazing to see these tiny tots actualy co-exist on this Earth!!

Richard Stalter

California

May 8, 2013, 4:41 am

It’s amazing to think of all the types of animals that have yet to be discovered; especially in the arthropod family.

Tanner

Southern New Hampshire

May 6, 2013, 8:41 am

As a young boy I remember playing around a swamp like body of water on my friends property and seeing small copper-colored frogs, about the size (maybe double) of the Paedophryne pictured above.

Sam

May 5, 2013, 1:14 pm

I like seeing bugs with my magnifying glass

Frodkin

United Kingdom

May 5, 2013, 8:07 am

My mum was pretty short and had a sharp temper…

In Park

Seoul,S.KOREA

May 2, 2013, 11:16 pm

Nature’s wonder. ^^*

Sara

Oregon

May 2, 2013, 3:24 pm

I so wish I could have a mouse lemur. How cute!!!

Indrani ghosh

India

May 2, 2013, 1:59 pm

Which the smallest reptile?

b

Western Massachusetts

May 1, 2013, 12:58 pm

A small parasitical wasp hovering around my front porch light. It was a male as it had no ovipositor. It had a tiny waist maybe 3 hairs wide. It was very delicate looking. I looked it up and it was a species of brachonid wasp.

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